Ada Lovelace Day: Highlighting the Women of Connectria

Known as the first computer programmer, Ada Lovelace serves as inspiration for this international celebration of the achievements of women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). We are pleased to participate in the growing tradition by sharing the stories of a few of our very own Lovelaces of Connectria! Comment below with a story of the Ada Lovelace in your life.

Name: AmandaTitle & description: Marketing Systems Manager. Amanda administers systems that support sales and marketing operations including the corporate website, CRM, Marketing Automation, CPQ (Configure, Price, Quote) and e-signature tools.Reason for entering technology field: “I have SEO/SEM (Search Engine Optimization/Search Engine Marketing) experience in an agency setting and brought my skills to Connectria to drive inbound leads. I have worked here for over 11 years and continue to learn about the ever-changing hosting industry and embrace the advances in marketing tools due to evolving technology. It is exciting to consider that my job and our company will utilize tools in the very near future that don’t exist yet.”Advice for those entering/already in IT: “Don’t be intimidated in the workplace by colleagues who are more knowledgeable or more experienced in a particular area than you are. Take every opportunity to learn from those around you & don’t be afraid to ask questions. Just make sure you are listening well when they take time to pass along their wisdom.”

Name: AnnaTitle & description: Systems Engineer, Domino Team. Anna performs maintenance and troubleshooting for IBM Domino customers.Reason for entering technology field: “I kind of stumbled into the IT field. In the early 90s, I was employed in a clerical position for a state office, when office computers started replacing typewriters (who remembers those!?). Not having a tech in our office and because I seemed to have a way with computers, I became the ‘go-to’ person for troubleshooting and training. I took a few classes and my skills just evolved over time, eventually specializing in Domino.”Advice for those entering/already in IT: “The only advice I have (which isn’t just for women) is to stay calm in all crisis, take your time, and work the problem. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help. We all need it from time to time!”

Name: CorinneTitle & description: Regional Director, Sales. Corinne helps customers optimize their environments by finding a solution to best fit their needs and educates customers about Connectria and our wide range of solutions.Reason for entering technology field: “I didn’t start out in IT, but rather as a graphic designer where I quickly learned I was much more of a customer-facing person. From there, I got into marketing and account management and became interested in digital marketing as it leveraged more technology. That led a hybrid role at an ISP, where I was an account manager and able to sell co-location and other IT related services. I learned as much as I could there, and officially moved into the hosted managed services industry. I really enjoy the opportunity I have with Connectria to learn about all facets of the company. I really have to know a little about each moving part at Connectria to do my job, and that keeps me interested. Never a dull moment!”Advice for those entering/already in IT: “Sit at the table (shout out to Sheryl Sandberg) and don’t be afraid to share your ideas, thoughts and opinions. Be friendly and approachable – a sense of humor goes a loooong way in IT!”

Name: JaymieTitle & description: Project Manager. Jaymie is in charge of planning and executing projects for new and existing hosting customers, as well as maintaining ongoing relationships with them.Reason for entering technology field: “I have always been a bit of a techno geek and started dabbling in computers very young. I take a lot of ribbing from friends and family for always having the latest gadget or newest phone that comes out on the market. I just love technology and get really excited about it. So don’t be surprised if you see me walking around talking into my wrist. I’m probably just sending a text reply.”Advice for those entering/already in IT: “Get a mentor, especially if you’re still in school. Look into MentorNet and LaunchCode. MentorNet pairs mentors and mentees in STEM fields. LaunchCode provides companies an opportunity to pair with women who want to learn coding or infrastructure/networking, provide training, and possibly extend employment.”

Name: JuliaTitle & description: Digital Marketing Manager. Julia manages all aspects of digital marketing, with a focus on search (organic and paid) as well as social media.Reason for entering technology field: “I’ve had many different careers from college professor to bartender to head of cat rescue. I’ve also marketed for many different types of companies. What I like most about the technology field is that there is so much to learn, and things are constantly changing. There is always something new to master and I enjoy that challenge.”Advice for those entering/already in IT: “Learn as much as you can and don’t be afraid to ask questions, make suggestions, or voice opinions. Believe in your own abilities and others will too.”

Name: SusanTitle & description: Director of Internal IT. Susan and her team are responsible for Connectria’s internal systems including workstations, mobile devices, and remote user environments.Reason for entering technology field: “It was a great way to meet guys! My first experience with computers was in high school, I was the only girl in both semesters of Computer development class. It also seemed very logical and controllable. So, after my first year of college as an Accounting major, I quickly ran back to IT. Getting my Information Systems degree when personal computers were just becoming available was incredible timing. I had the first, and only personal computer, in a large insurance company. This baby booted from 5 ¼” floppy! And the World Wide Web? I was part of the team, again all guys, that convinced management this was a real thing and that the Company needed to be a part of it immediately. Application development became the next big thing in my life, from in-house workflow applications to web sites with workflow.”Advice for those entering/already in IT: “Do your homework, know the technology and keep up with the new technologies. Stand your ground and remember, everyone makes mistakes, that is a crucial part of learning.”